Jordan's Senate committee endorses 2019 state budget

AMMAN, Jan. 6 (Xinhua) -- Jordan's Senate committee on Sunday endorsed the draft state budget law for 2019 with a wide deficit and an increase in total spending.

The Senate's financial committee endorsed the bill after it was approved by the Lower House.

The draft state budget was endorsed by the Jordanian government last month.

The main features of the draft law indicate that the general revenues were estimated at 8.610 billion dinars (12.14 billion U.S. dollars) with 8.010 billion dinars as domestic revenues and 600 million dinars as foreign grants.

According to the draft law, total public spending is estimated at 9.255 billion dinars with an increase of 437 million dinars compared to 2018.

After foreign financial assistance, the deficit is expected to stand at 646 million dinars, accounting for two percent of the GDP.

The amount allocated for social safety net and supporting the needy will increase in 2019 state budget, according to the draft bill.

The government said that the budget is in line with necessary fiscal reforms.

To discuss fiscal reforms with the International Monetary Fund, a government delegation headed by Jordan's Prime Minister Omar Razzaz will head to the U.S. on Tuesday.